VARIATION IN SISTER-CELL CYCLE DURATIONS AND LOSS OF SYNCHRONY IN CELL LINEAGES IN ROOT APICAL MERISTEMS

Analyses of identifiable cell lineages of known ages in pea root meristems have allowed estimates to be made of differences in cell cycle duration of sister cells and of the rate of loss of synchrony within lineages as cell proliferation continues. The average difference between sister-cell cycle times is approx. 14%. This results in loss of synchrony within cell lineages, and complete asynchrony is reached after approx. 5 cycles. No evidence for longitudinal gradients being involved in determining differences in cycle times within columns of cells in the proliferating compartment of the meristem was obtained. © 1979.